[fibrofog]

I would like to know what y'all use to combat headaches. I fighting a stubborn one right now that is not responding to tylenol nor my regular meds. MMJ has always been a crap shoot for my migraines. If I take a hit or two while the migraine is coming on, I can avoid it. If I take a hit or two just a litle bit too late, then I trigger a full blown migraine. Thrashing on the bed, sweating, moaning, vomiting, light & sound sensitivity the whole 9 yards.

The headache I have right now is a borderline migraine. It wants to kick my ass but massage has kept it at bay for the last hour. It's like a spike running thru my right eye exiting the right side of the base of my skull.

Should I try an indica, a sativa, or perhaps a hash? I have keif available also.

p.s. - I am a long time migraine sufferer. I have used Imitrix with success. I can't take pills so I got the nasal spray. It makes me vomit UNCONTROLLABLY for about 1 or 2 minutes, but I can feel the pain subsiding even while vomiting. The migraine is usually eradicated after an hour or 90 minutes. I can't take the vomiting. Yes, there is an injectable but due to cardiac concerns the first dose must be given by a doctor at a hospital.

[fibrofog]

Thanks Prax,

sadly due to my multiple co-existing afflictions, I can't take a really hot shower. I can barely get into a hot tub. I have some obscure extreme sensitivities. I can't drink tea either. I like the medicate til you drop scenario.

Take a long HOT shower with lots of steam and drink some hot tea. I take Excederin Migraine (I get em bad to) but sometimes nothing helps. Then its just time to over medicate and pass out basically. Oh and drink lots of H20 it helps keep the body cleansed. I just got over a 2 day migraine episode so g`luck sir.

[MediKaliNumb]

usally the purps trigger those bad boys for me so i definatly stay away from those,like you guys I get headaches that last 2-3 days my doc prescribed topamax,neurontin and somethin else and nothing helps.Sometimes smoking makes it really worse somtimes it will make it a little better.My headaches have gotten so bad I dont smoke as much anymore so I have more pain through the day.Honestly I have found nothing helps me whether its advil,excedrine migraine or tension ,or any precribed pills.Its sorta depressing and very miserable.I try to eat fruits and drink alot of water especially when its hot.Sometimes putting my head in a vice sounds better than living with the headache

[vinyl jones]

I have a history of migranes as well, though not as severe as what has been described in this thread. When I do get them, Imitrex has worked wonders for me...although it also makes me feel pretty damn strange when I take it, and not in a good way. I have also had Neurotin (sp?) but it didn'r really help much. Over the counter stuff rarely has worked, sometimes I have a little help with prescription strength Ibuprofins in the 800mg flavor.

Besides the whole isolate yourself from outside stimulus and bascally smoke yourself into a stupor, I am not sure what else to try. If you have a good handle on your meds and a pretty good understanding of their properties, pick the one that makes you the most sleepy and fire it up en masse.

Good luck friend!

[tHEaNIMICnEEDLE]

fibro, eat a lot of weed

that might help

[MediKaliNumb]

Fibro come up with anything yet.If you do let me know

[stellblue]

fibro - can you drink coffee? It dilates the blood vessels. Supposedly migraines happen when the blood vessels constrict, so anything that can open them might help you. Caffeine is a big ingredient in lots of OTC and prescript migraine medication.

I get migraines, but not as often as you. They're horrible and you have my deepest sympathy! I darken my bedroom and take any pill that might possibly work, but then I'm not allergic to anything like you are. Do you have any pain pills? Take a few and go to sleep, the pain meds will help w the pain and hopefully also put you to sleep so you can sleep the worst of it off.

[fibrofog]

Thanks all. I've been down for a few days so I haven't replied yet.

I've heard of those other medications and I was hoping not to have to deal with another pill. I finally got rid of this headache by going to sleep. Sometimes, that's the only way. I don't drink coffee but I've used caffeine to try and dilate blood vessels. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't.

I'm intrigued by Needle's suggestion. Usually I'm not able to eat a thing when a migraine is coming on since they all make me vomit. Maybe I'll try and keep like 6 of those caramels on hand. I could eat some tainted candy but could not eat straight weed.

Thanks for all the help.

[hadnarev]

I have suffered migraines ever since I was a teenager, bad ones I might add, technically called classic complicated migraine--the aura along with severe pain and symptoms like nausea, light/noise sensitivity, numbness on one side of the body, hand-eye coordination issues, language production issues (aphasia). Nothing has ever seemd to work very well, but maybe medical marijuana is the answer. I'm a psychologist and have tried to use that knowledge along with a lot of reading on how marijuana might help with migraines to make sense of all of this. A lot of this is partial speculation, so take it for what it is worth, but regarding previous posts, here is my take (hopefully without jargon)... Also, for those of you medicating migraines with marijuana, please share any of your personal experiences that might help us understand how it all works!

Migraines are caused by blood vessels constricting and then dilating and then overdilating (the pain), basically. though this is vastly oversimplified.

Caffeine actually makes blood vessels constrict, not dilate as someone posted, which is why it can help with the pain (by reducing the overdilating or preventing it). Many migraine drugs (such as Imitrix and Midrin) works similarly. These can actually cause a migraine, however, if you take them at times other than during an attack because the constriction can trigger the process of constricting, dilating, and then overdilating blood vessels. Withdrawal from dependency on them, which results in overdilating blood vessels, can cause migraine symptoms as well.

So... on to marijuana. THC prevents the reuptake of serotonin in the brain, which means that more serotonin is available/increases serotonin levels, and more serotonin means blood vessel constricting. This is one reason why it can help with migraine, keeping blood vessels from overconstricting (the cause of the pain). It is a lot more complicated than this, other cannabinoids beside THC and other neurotransmitters besides serotonin seem to be involved, but most of the rest is not well understood. From what I understand, sativas are generally recommended for migraine over indicas, but no one has ever told me why? Anyone know? I speculate that it may be due to fact that sativas keep you alert (or not as sleepy as indicas), which suggests that they may have a complicated effect on serotonin or maybe other relevant neurotransmitters that results in the constricting of blood vessels but not the excessive constricting that might trigger the migraine constrict-dilate-overdilate process? Someone mentioned that purples (indicas) seem to always trigger a migraine, maybe because it results in too much constricting whereas sativas just do it enough to prevent overdilating?

[tHEaNIMICnEEDLE]

yeah fibro try and brew some cannamilk with whole milk and strain it after about 20 minutes of simmering and mix wiht chocolate or whatever... add the milk to anything and drink.

using hash or kief will produce the best results, but ground up buds will work well



feel bettah fibro!!!!!

[Free 2 b me]

Hey Fibro,
Like so many others I too suffer migraines and have tried tons of different stuff. I did the Imitrex, but only had horrible side effects.......it felt like I was having a heart attack or what I would imagine one would feel like......my best aide with my migraines to date has been having to take Maxalt......I take it sub-lingually (under the tongue) and it starts working within about a half hour or so......so if I'm vomiting, the meds are still in my system cuz it has been absorbed into my bloodstream. I have taken Caffregot (sp?) which is a caffeine/ergot extract with the end results being what have been described in other replies, i.e. dilating the blood vessels, etc. I can't even get my regular pain meds to touch these headaches but the Maxalt works much better than anything else I've tried. Seems when I medicate by smoking, (if it's even possible) a lot of times, my headaches seem to get worse, but I am hoping to get some different types of stuff I can start making my own edibles and tinctures and see how that works.
Much luck Fibro and the rest of everyone! I know how much those suckers hurt.....and when ur already in pain...it almost sends me into overload!! Good luck in your search Fibro and hope ya find the perfect thing that works just right for u!!
Peace and One Love

[Organo]

i too take maxalt. but theyre the little pills that you swallow. they help with the aura and pain a little bit but do nothing for the anxiety or nausea which is why i prefer an indica to go with them. although some sativas work really well for eye and head pain. as far as purple strains being a cause of migraines, i personally havent experienced this, but durban poison actually gave me a migraine recently

[fibrofog]

Wow,

I don't know what to say. I'm completely overwhelmed by the love.

Some things still remain the same even now. My best shot at curing a migraine is to hit a pure sativa once or twice at the ONSET of the migraine. If I smoke it just a little bit too late, the mj actually triggers the migraine for me. If I get it on time, it is immediately squashed into a dull very tolerable headache. A little nap time and it's gone. It hasn't ever failed me when I smoked in time.

I have 3 times been able to smoke some while in the grip of a full migraine. I suffer the classic syptoms but almost always vomit. Each time I had some success with a dominant heavy indica. Hydro/chem weed did the least and made me more nauseated. An indoor organic gave the most relief.....about 30%.

[fibrofog]

I haven't used drugs to combat migraines in a long time. I gave up on Imitrix years ago. Can't take pills with a migraine and the nasal spray makes me vomit uncontrollaby for 2 to 3 minutes. I have to literally fight to breathe. Anyone who has had vomitous migraines understands. They wouldn't give me the injectable version because the first needle dose has to be done by the doctor at the hospital. Right, I'm supposed to drive to the hospital with a migraine. Morons.

I had some recent success with percocet 10s. 1 broken in half taken 30 minutes apart. Breaking the tab makes the medicine release faster to help breakthru. I completely killed 2 migraines with that approach.

My favorite strain for migraines when I don't have all the other stuff that works is Grapefruit. For me it is very versatile. It kills cramps, nausea, reduces headache pain and reduces anxiety for me.

I haven't heard of Maxalt but I will keep it in mind. Thank you all so much.

[fibrofog]

Originally Posted by hadnarev

From what I understand, sativas are generally recommended for migraine over indicas, but no one has ever told me why? Anyone know? I speculate that it may be due to fact that sativas keep you alert (or not as sleepy as indicas), which suggests that they may have a complicated effect on serotonin or maybe other relevant neurotransmitters that results in the constricting of blood vessels but not the excessive constricting that might trigger the migraine constrict-dilate-overdilate process? Someone mentioned that purples (indicas) seem to always trigger a migraine, maybe because it results in too much constricting whereas sativas just do it enough to prevent overdilating?

It has been scientifically proven in 1996 that there are naturally occuring THC receptor systems throughout the human body. Sativas go the receptors in the brain. Indicas go to all the receptors. What I theorize is that there is some sort of overlap between THC receptor systems and the opiate receptor system. What I can't figure out is while I am taking long acting opiates as part of a pain management program, why most indicas are blocked by the opiates. Sativas on the other hand, completely bypass the opiates and achieve the desired results.

[hadnarev]

Originally Posted by fibrofog

It has been scientifically proven in 1996 that there are naturally occuring THC receptor systems throughout the human body. Sativas go the receptors in the brain. Indicas go to all the receptors. What I theorize is that there is some sort of overlap between THC receptor systems and the opiate receptor system. What I can't figure out is while I am taking long acting opiates as part of a pain management program, why most indicas are blocked by the opiates. Sativas on the other hand, completely bypass the opiates and achieve the desired results.

So, basically, the idea is that sativas are better for migraines because their action is focused on the brain, which makes sense.

It is wierd how indicas do nothing while opiates are in the system. Relevant to your theory, research has shown that marijuana does not overlap with opiates in terms of how they affect the brain, but maybe the research was only done with sativas? It seems like people who do research on this never make the distinction, assuming all marijuana is basically the same. If you are right, it would probably mean that indicas affect dopamine receptors (like opiates do) in some way, which would also maybe be why they might not have any effect while opiates are in the system? Research has shown, though, (maybe research only on sativas) that marijuana does not affect the dopamine system, which is why it is not addictive (addictive drugs are those that affect the dopamine system--the brain's reward system). I wish the law would allow me to do studies on this stuff...

[hadnarev]

In addition to using it abort an attack or deal with pain after it starts, has anyone tried using marijuana as a prophylactic drug, meaning that it would be used on a regular basis to try to prevent them? A medical marijuana doctor told me that it could be used this way, taking it regularly at least every 2 or 3 days.

[lostsailor]

Hey Fibro
Sorry to hear you are in pain.
Generally Migranes are associated with serotonin levels.

Do the headaches come at certain times (Day or Month)?
Do they come as a result of ingesting certain foods or drinks?
Are you expieriencing Depression and Anxiety also?
Have you had your Thyroid checked?

some find cannabis use as an excellent pre headache relief medicine.
unfortunately imo once full bore migrane, cannabis use is not comfortable and less effective.
also some find sexual release good medicine in the pre headache stage, so much for honey I have a headache:( Probably because it can alter hormone levels within.
My feeling is cannabis can be a good precursor medicine but a more effective preventive method will be diet analysis and change, exercise plan , in addtion to cannabis and I would try to eliminate the pharma drugs with the horrid adverse effects unles it is absolutely the only thing that helps in a meltdown.
having someone pinch the point between your thumb and index finger is a wonderful accu point to ease headaches and works for sure. just a nice steady squeeze. also traction at the sub occipital nerve where the skull meets the cervical spine is nice. roll a towel and tuck it so your head gets traction up off your shoulders, at the very least it will ease tension.
also having your doctor check your thyroid and serotonin levels is a great idea.
Thyroid can cause so much trouble within you wouldn't believe it.
I hope it gets better for you.
Good Luck

[fibrofog]

Originally Posted by lostsailor

Hey Fibro
Sorry to hear you are in pain.
Generally Migranes are associated with serotonin levels.

Do the headaches come at certain times (Day or Month)?
Do they come as a result of ingesting certain foods or drinks?
Are you expieriencing Depression and Anxiety also?
Have you had your Thyroid checked?

Nope. Nope and nope. Nope and usually. Not lately. but been thru the doctors ringer for the last 4-5 years.

[lostsailor]

Fibro what do you think is at root of your headaches.Related to Fibro? So these things come from nowhere for no reason? often?
have you tried straight Excedrin? I know it sounds crazy but Excedrin is good because it is mixed pain killers and caffine which hurrys the uptake.
somebody mentioned excedrin migrane-
I have been observing my wife have migranes for 10 years and in her case have isolated carbohydrate rich foods , alcohol (green beer) and hormonal change (monthly) as triggers. Once they diagnosed hypothyroidism and gave her thyroid replacement meds the migranes are gone. SHe used to get them so bad she'd be throwing up. Since fixing thyroid levels the migranes are gone even old triggers don't set them off anymore. Excedrin helped when she used to get them. IMO anything that helps is ok and its good to stop the suffering. have you looked into seeing a D.O as opposed to an M.D. ? D.O has all the credentials of an MD, and then some, but have a completely differen't approach. I would have to say that there is probably something out there that can help you more. Don't give up you will find the answer.

[fibrofog]

Actually, stress seems to be at the root of the problem or at least the chemicals stress dumps into my brain. I started getting migraines at age 14. The bad ones. Light & sound sensitivity, vomiting, the whole nine yards.

When I was programming for a big company the stress gave me 1 to2 migraines a week. The first time I was given Xanex in 1998, my migraines almost disappeared completely. I still get some real bad ones.

[Markit8]

I believe strongly that the strain to use depends on the migraine.

From what you've said... where the pain is and that sometimes weed can cause a migraine for you... I say the more sativa the better. maybe not a greencrack, but a thai, choc thai, chocolope.. something with a strong sativa high.

I agree with those who have suggested edibles: for a BAD migraine, thats really the way to go. I've found that sometimes just some edibles dont do it... in many cases when you use edibles, you have to eat a lot of them. Tea, strips, candy, cannamist, and certain tinctures will provide quicker relief than many brownies and other edibles. PM me for recipes.

Goodluck

[Markit8]

If Xanax worked then you might want to consider that your migraines could be a symptom of anxiety or depression. Anxiety and disphoria don't necessitate unhappiness or stress.... sometimes the symptoms are manifested in flu-like symptoms and migraines.

I've found that, in many cases, there is more migraine related insight to be found from a psychiatrist than a neurologist. That added specialization in psycho-pharmacology helps.

[mooniegoogoo]

Do you like popsicles? Does cold help at all with the pain? I'll post up a good recipie for hashicles for you, couldnt hurt to keep em in the freezer, they should keep for a good month or so.